Our Board

David Dirks is a staunch advocate for racial and economic justice issues with technical knowledge of federal homelessness programs, from compliance to system and program design.

David serves as Directing Attorney on Homebase’s Federal HUD technical assistance team, providing trainings, technical assistance, and support in evaluating and addressing community needs and goals according to evidence-based best practices to address homelessness. He also serves as the Strategy Lead for the Racial Equity Action and Coordination Team and serves on the national HUD Equity TA Committee.

David holds expertise in a wide range of housing programs and funding sources. He is a skilled facilitator, bringing together communities and cross-sector stakeholders to build consensus around strategic approaches to equitably address homelessness. David also serves as a volunteer attorney with the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, providing legal counsel to clients through the Tenant Volunteer Lawyer of the Day program and the Consumer Protection Project. David is a native of Los Angeles, CA, and holds a BS in Business Marketing from Grambling State University of Louisiana and a JD from Howard University School of Law.

Matt DelNero joined the Friendship Place Board of Directors in June 2023 and currently serves as Vice Chair.  His commitment to Friendship Place arises from the belief that everyone deserves stability, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive—no matter their circumstances. That belief has guided both his volunteer work and his professional life.

Matt is a partner at Covington & Burling LLP and has practiced law in Washington, D.C. for over 20 years. He previously served in senior roles at the Federal Communications Commission, where he worked with other civil servants to expand broadband access and affordability, including for low-income households. He also will serve as President of the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA – The Tech Bar) for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

Matt and his husband live in the D.C. area and are active members of Augustana Lutheran Church, a partner congregation of Friendship Place.

Bob Adler has been a member of the Board since September 2021. He is currently Treasurer, Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Development and Audit Committees. He settled in Washington DC with his late wife in 2018. Before that he was at the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles for 33 years until 2008, eventually becoming managing partner. Subsequently, he was named Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Edison International, one of the country’s largest utility holding companies, retiring in 2014. He has served in a number of philanthropic roles in Southern California, including Chair or Vice Chair of The Claremont Colleges, Southern California Public Radio, The Webb Schools, and LA County Law Library Friends, and a Board member of several other organizations. Bob’s two children and their families, including four grandchildren, reside in the DC area.

Tashmia “Mia” Bryant is a dedicated systems transformation leader who started her career working in youth employment in her hometown of Hartford, CT. During that time, she recognized the high need for housing stability and supportive services among the youth she worked with, and this led to her nearly 10 year career in housing and homelessness. Tashmia has worked at the local, statewide, national, and federal levels supporting communities, programs, and initiatives across the country to improve housing outcomes for all. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Psychology from the University of Hartford. She is also a proud Howard University Alum and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Michele Salters Williams has over twenty-five years experience in providing services to vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities, individuals and families experiencing homelessness and low-income communities.  She is an expert in program development and implementation as well as Continuum of Care Management.   

As founder of Michele S. Williams, LLC, Michele has leveraged her expertise as a leader in the nonprofit and government sectors to create a firm uniquely designed to meet the needs of nonprofit organizations. Her focus is on crisis management and solutions, increasing capacity for organizations, supporting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and building the skills and confidence of staff.

Michele holds a B.S.W in Social Work and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Administration from Western Michigan University. Michele is a Standards for Excellence^® Licensed Consultant and Board Source certified to work with nonprofit organizations across the country interested in learning about and implementing the Standards for Excellence code.  Michele is also a 2014 alumnus of the Masters Series for Distinguished Leaders in Washington, DC.